Crow Killer (1972) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The ending of Crow Killer (also known as The Scalphunters) is a climactic resolution to the frontier revenge saga of Jeremiah Johnson, a mountain man who becomes a legendary figure after avenging the murder of his family by Crow warriors. The film concludes with Johnson achieving his vengeance but being left emotionally hollow, symbolizing the cost of violence and isolation. The final scenes depict him walking alone into the wilderness, suggesting his transformation into a mythic, almost ghostly figure-a man both feared and revered. The ending leaves open whether he finds peace or remains trapped in his cycle of retribution.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The ending of Crow Killer (a nickname for Jeremiah Johnson, based on the real-life figure John Johnston) is a powerful meditation on revenge, survival, and the myth of the American frontier. After enduring the brutal murder of his wife and adopted son by Crow warriors, Johnson embarks on a relentless quest for vengeance, systematically hunting down those responsible. The film's climax sees him finally confronting the last of his enemies, completing his bloody mission. However, instead of triumph, Johnson is left with an overwhelming sense of emptiness. The wilderness, once his refuge, now mirrors his internal desolation. The final shot of him disappearing into the snowy mountains cements his status as a legend-neither fully alive nor dead, but a spectral force of nature.
The film's conclusion is intentionally ambiguous, refusing to provide a neat resolution. Johnson's journey is not one of redemption but of transformation. His vengeance does not bring his family back, nor does it heal his trauma. Instead, it consumes him, turning him into the very thing he once fought against-a killer stripped of humanity. The Crow, who initially seemed like villains, are portrayed with nuance, their actions stemming from their own losses and tribal conflicts. The ending forces the audience to question whether Johnson's quest was justified or merely a self-destructive spiral. The wilderness, indifferent to human suffering, swallows him whole, suggesting that nature-not man-always has the final word.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
- Does Johnson find peace after his revenge?
- No: His hollow expression in the final scene implies he is forever haunted.
- Maybe: His return to solitude could signify acceptance, not happiness.
- Is he truly a legend or just a broken man?
- Legend: His deeds cement his status in frontier folklore.
- Broken man: His isolation suggests he's more cursed than celebrated.
- What does his disappearance into the wilderness symbolize?
- Death: Metaphorically, he joins the spirits of the land.
- Rebirth: He sheds his past to become something new.
Personal Opinion on the Ending & Film
The ending of Crow Killer is one of the most haunting in Western cinema precisely because it refuses to offer closure. Robert Redford's portrayal of Johnson is mesmerizing-his quiet intensity makes the character's descent into myth feel inevitable. The film's greatest strength is its refusal to romanticize vengeance. Unlike traditional Westerns where the hero rides into the sunset, Johnson walks into oblivion, his victory pyrrhic. The cinematography, with its vast, unforgiving landscapes, reinforces the theme of man versus nature-and nature always wins.
I admire how the film subverts expectations. Johnson isn't a clear-cut hero; he's a tragic figure, shaped by loss and rage. The Crow are not faceless villains but a people defending their way of life. This moral complexity elevates the movie beyond a simple revenge tale. The ending lingers because it doesn't tie everything up-it leaves you wondering if Johnson's legend is a blessing or a curse. In my view, Crow Killer is a masterpiece of the genre, a meditation on violence that feels as relevant today as it did in 1972.
Final Thoughts
The ending of Crow Killer is a poetic, open-ended conclusion to a brutal odyssey. It doesn't provide easy answers, instead inviting viewers to grapple with the cost of vengeance and the price of legend. Johnson's fate is left to the wilderness, a fitting end for a man who became more myth than man. Whether he finds peace or merely fades into the snow is a question only the mountains can answer.